E-Financial
Wigwe, Access Bank Boss Calls for Fintechs, Blockchain Regulation

The payment system globally has become largely digitalised with channels such as Mobile Apps, e-wallets, POS, ATMs gradually becoming the preferred ways of making different forms of payment from school bills, airtime recharges, money transfers, utility bills and cable TV payments.
As laudable as the impact of digitalised platforms on the payment system, it has been observed that all these have also come with security threats.
Herbert Wigwe, group managing director, Access Bank, while briefing stakeholders in the banking and security space at an anti-fraud workshop organised by Access Bank in commemoration of the anti-fraud week, said the issue of security threats cannot be overemphasised.
His words: “It may interest you that the bank is just “one actor” in the chain of actors involved in digital payments. Others such as developers, vendors, payment providers, aggregators, merchants, regulators, auditors, credit bureau amongst others play critical roles in data protection and security of digital payments.
“The Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS) reported that in 2018, about 89 per cent of all financial services fraud in Nigeria happened through Digital channels while only 11 per cent were non-electronic”.
He added that, “the total value of attempted fraud increased by over 124 per cent between 2017 and 2018”.
In Nigeria, customers are culturally not attuned to security issues around digital transactions, even well-educated people run the risk of falling victim to social engineering and identity theft traps,”
However, Wigwe is of the opinion that the failure of creating customers on digital payment channels which are useful but not needed by the customer due to lack of customer profiling is a major security threat to Digital payments in Nigeria.
“Selling of digital products should be done according to needs. Evolving payment technologies like Blockchain and cryptocurrency, should also be well regulated and come under the radar of security checks by regulators.
“We need to be innovative and keep up with the speed of digitization, whilst continuing to build secure and resilient systems which would consequently fortify the Nigerian payments ecosystem.
“This will not only help to protect digital payments in Nigeria but comprehensively achieve the cashless vision the country has aimed for in collaboration with the government, he added.
Mr. Sam Okojere, director, Payments System Management Department, said the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has been embedding fraud risk mitigating measures in its guidelines and periodic circulars to ensure that adequate measures are being implemented at all levels of digital product development and its operations.
“The Circular for Implementation of Two Factor Authentication for Internal Banking Processes of 2015 mandated banks to institute maker-checker controls and implement Two Factor Authentication at login points for applications driving Transfers, Withdrawal, Deposit, Standing Order, Account Maintenance and their System Maintenance processes.
“In addition, the circular also mandated all payment processing Gateways and Third Party Processors to implement Fraud-Monitoring Tools to check transfers from an account to multiple bank accounts. All these directives were mitigation steps responding to early indicators of risk in the industry.”
E-Financial
Africa Prudential Launches Sabivest to Boost Digital Investment Access

Africa Prudential Plc has launched Sabivest, a digital shareholder and investment management application, as part of efforts to deepen access to investment opportunities and enhance transparency in Nigeria’s capital market.

Unveiled in Lagos, the platform is designed to provide investors with a centralised system for managing shareholdings and tracking portfolio performance across multiple investment products.
At the launch, the Chairperson of Africa Prudential Plc, Christabel Onyejekwe, said the initiative reflects the company’s commitment to leveraging innovation to improve investor experience and participation.
“Sabivest provides a unified ecosystem that enables individuals and institutions to seamlessly access, monitor and grow diversified financial assets through a single interface,” she said, describing the platform as a significant step in advancing digital transformation within the capital market.
The Managing Director, Catherine Nwosu, noted that the application, which is available for download on both iOS and Android platforms, was developed to address structural challenges that have continued to limit investor efficiency, including fragmented investment accounts, restricted access to diverse financial instruments, and inadequate visibility into portfolio performance.
According to her, the platform aggregates multiple investment services, offering users real-time insights and control through a centralised dashboard.
She added that Sabivest features consolidated portfolio views, performance tracking, asset allocation insights, and electronic dividend management, alongside tools for monitoring, documenting, and recovering unclaimed dividends.
The launch also featured a roundtable session themed, “Building Trust and Driving Innovation in Nigeria’s Capital Market,” where stakeholders emphasised the importance of technology-driven solutions in strengthening investor confidence and expanding market participation.
E-Financial
Transcorp Excites Shareholders with ₦20.3 Billion Dividend @20th AGM

Transnational Corporation Plc (“Transcorp Group” or the “Company”) (NGX: TRANSCORP), Africa’s leading listed conglomerate with strategic investments in power, hospitality and energy, has declared a total dividend of ₦20,323,995,148, representing ₦2.00 per share to its shareholders, at its 20th Annual General Meeting (AGM), held at the new state-of-the-art Transcorp Centre Abuja.

Group Chairman, Mr Tony O. Elumelu, CFR; President/Group CEO,, Mrs. Owen D. Omogiafo, OON; and Company Secretary, Ms. Atinuke Kolade, during the 20th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of Transnational Corporation Plc( Transcorp Group) held in Abuja at the weekend
The total dividend comprises an interim dividend payment of ₦4,064,799.030, representing 40 kobo per share, paid in August 2025, together with a final dividend of ₦16,259,196,118, equivalent to ₦1.60 per share.
At the AGM, where the shareholders approved the Audited Financial Statements for the year ended December 31, 2025, the Group Chairman of Transcorp Plc, Mr Tony O. Elumelu, CFR, restated the company’s commitment to delivering sustainable long-term value creation as shareholders commended the conglomerate and its management for sustained performance.
In 2025, the Group, with a combined market capitalisation of ₦4.78 trillion ($3.52 billion) as of May 7, 2026, recorded strong year-on-year growth across all key metrics. Revenue increased by 33% to ₦544 billion (FY 2024: ₦408 billion). Profit Before Tax rose 31% to ₦179.5 billion (FY 2024: ₦136.7 billion), while Profit After Tax surged 44% to ₦135.9 billion (FY 2024: ₦94.1 billion)
Group Chairman, Mr Tony O. Elumelu, CFR; President/Group CEO,, Mrs. Owen D. Omogiafo, OON; and Company Secretary, Ms. Atinuke Kolade, during the 20th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of Transnational Corporation Plc( Transcorp Group) held in Abuja at the weekend
Mr. Tony O. Elumelu, CFR, Group Chairman, Transnational Corporation Plc said: “Transcorp Group remains firmly focused on strong corporate governance and the disciplined execution of its strategic priorities to deliver sustainable, long-term value. Despite a challenging macroeconomic environment, the Group continues to benefit from its diversified portfolio, which has underpinned resilient financial performance in 2025.
Mrs. Owen D. Omogiafo, OON, President/Group CEO, Transnational Corporation Plc said: “FY 2025 was a year defined by disciplined execution, strategic resolve, and resilient performance. Transcorp Group is committed to resolving the energy crisis in Nigeria; we have an energy situation, and the gap between the demand and supply is still very wide. Hence, we will continue to work assiduously and tirelessly towards bridging that gap, creating value for the wider country.
In our hospitality business, the 5,000-seat capacity Transcorp Centre hosting us today is a testament to our disciplined execution, and you will see more in the coming years.
While commenting on the performance, one of the shareholders, Mrs E. O. Obideyi, commended the management of Transcorp Group, saying, “I commend the management and staff of Transcorp for sustained performance year-on-year. While we appreciate the Board, I am also extending my commendation to the members of staff of Transcorp for a job well done.”
Another Shareholder, Mr Moses Igrude, commended the Board, Management and Staff of Transcorp Plc. He said: “I appreciate the vision behind Transcorp and what it has become. When I look at the history, and how far it has come under Mr Tony Elumelu’s leadership, I am proud that the aim and objectives are being achieved. That payoff line, ‘Improving lives and transforming Africa,’ is a reality we are witnessing.
Transnational Corporation Plc (Transcorp Group) is one of Africa’s leading listed conglomerates, with strategic investments in power, hospitality and energy, driven by its mission to improve lives and transform Africa.
The Group’s power businesses — Transcorp Power Plc and Transafam Power — provide over 20% of Nigeria’s installed power capacity. Transcorp is also advancing Nigeria’s domestic energy value chain through its investment in OPL281. Its hospitality subsidiary, Transcorp Hotels Plc, owns the iconic Transcorp Hilton Abuja and the landmark Transcorp Centre Abuja.
E-Financial
IMF Fears AI-Powered Cyberattack Could Spark Global Financial Crisis

International Monetary Fund (IMF) has warned that artificial intelligence (AI) is significantly increasing the danger of cyberattacks on the global financial system.

Pic credit… saturnpartners
According to a blog post from the IMF, these AI-driven threats could turn isolated security breaches into severe economic disruptions, potentially freezing payments, shaking markets, and undermining public trust in banks worldwide.
In its analysis, the fund highlighted a specific example involving the controlled release of an advanced AI model called Claude Mythos Preview by Anthropic.
The IMF noted that this model demonstrated the ability to identify and exploit weaknesses in all major operating systems and web browsers, even when used by individuals without specialized expertise.
The IMF cautioned that AI could heighten risk concentration within the financial system.
A single exploited vulnerability might cascade across numerous institutions simultaneously due to heavy reliance on a limited number of cloud providers, software platforms, and AI models.
Such events could escalate from operational issues to macro-financial shocks, triggering confidence crises, liquidity problems, and fire-sale dynamics in markets. The organization also acknowledged that AI forms part of the solution.
As attackers operate at machine speed, financial institutions are deploying their own AI-assisted tools for threat detection, fraud prevention, and faster incident response.
The IMF highlighted a geopolitical dimension to the threat, noting that cyber risk crosses national borders and that inconsistent oversight among countries could weaken the globally interconnected financial system.
Emerging economies, often with limited resources, may face disproportionate exposure.
The fund urged policymakers to treat cybersecurity as a core financial stability concern rather than a technical or operational matter.
It called for prioritization of resilience standards, systemic supervision, and international coordination to contain breaches before they spread.
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